Clark was epic all the way, Stewart was epic on track and can be tedious when he opens his mouth. DC was always a gentleman, on and off the track (except for certain Schumacher encounters....), di Resta has been described not only as tedious but as quite arrogant towards fans as well. The Beeb wanted to build him up into the next big thing, but by the looks of it I would be surprised if di Resta will be on the grid next year.

If Force India are going to race at all, they will need two pay drivers like Marussia.

It is interesting that they confirm Sutil as well, which I find hard to believe. I think d Resta will be safe, he is thier best hope for success and has drivne 2 very strong seasons and without teamorders he will shows his full potential.

It is interesting that they confirm Sutil as well, which I find hard to believe. I think d Resta will be safe, he is thier best hope for success and has drivne 2 very strong seasons and without teamorders he will shows his full potential.

Predictable to see you peddling his team orders piffle, having been his chief apologist for the last 2 years. Do you honestly, actually believe what you just typed?

That too is a problem. Sure F1 is a sport and should be about performance, but it's also a popularity contents and drivers need to work on their charm in order to make themselves more attractive to sponsors. On telly, Di Resta has the charisma of a frozen fish stick and him being anonymous in races doesn't exactly help.

the funny thing is that he's only saying that because/since di Resta cried to the press, before that I don't think he noticed/talked about team orders at force india.

Oh, in fact I never noticed any unusual team order at FI, nor do I believe there was one, but Paul seems to do so and he should know. He will have had reasons for talking to the press about the problem. I am certain that his seat is secure, who would they replace him with? Sutil, the guy who stuck to the team even though they dropped him in 2011, the guy who was still warmly welcomed in their hospitality when he visited them in 2012 and who brings some sponsor money and has beaten di Resta in 2011?

I always thought that the British media's love of Di Resta was because he was one of the only drivers who was always available for an interview. Quite useful when you're trying to stretch out a pre-race or post-race show. .

If Force India are in as much trouble as has been rumored, then he could well get the boot. If that happened then I could see Bianchi get a seat, and maybe Senna or someone with large backing.

As for Di Resta being good or not, I think he is in a team that represents his current skill, wouldn't have put him in the McLaren, maybe the Merc on the basis of last years car. He is by no means phenomenal and by no means crap.

I always thought that the British media's love of Di Resta was because he was one of the only drivers who was always available for an interview. Quite useful when you're trying to stretch out a pre-race or post-race show. .

The thing that is strange about di Resta is that he is clearly a want-away driver from Force India. Ever since the summer he has been talking about going to top teams and he never talks about Force India in terms of helping the team to improve to become more competitive (like Perez at Sauber for example), he just seems resigned to Force India never being properly competitive and wants to move on as soon as possible.

Once he missed out on the McLaren drive he seemed to get a bad case of Massa-itis - his confidence was down and there hasn't really been a way back for him in 2012 (bar one or two good performances all season). His first season was ok, matching Sutil was a good achievement, but Hulkenburg has outclassed him after a year on the sidelines.

Hulkenburg's move to Sauber lends some weight to the rumours that FI are in trouble - he jumped before he could be pushed. Now di Resta faces being Kovalainen-ed (if Mike Gascoyne's comments are to be believed) with the added issue that FI need money. Sutil and Senna for 2013?

Absolutely Right

Di Resta has brought this on himself by being disrespectful to his current team and by making it clear that he wants away. Same mistake Kovalainen made and no doubt same result. They are right to replace him with someone who really wants the drive.

But I think Hulkenberg is hyped a bit too much for 'beating' Resta. Maybe I missed something but I did not see any domination. And Resta held his own against Sutil as well, despite of that another already had years in the team. I did not see any of these drivers being class abovethe other.

The hatred towards Di Resta is the biggest mystery in F1 for me at the moment

I agree. I don't think it's his fault that the likes of Coulthard and Brundle have talked him up so much. Maybe they're the people who should be criticised - or their production crews.

But I'll be interested to see the outcome of Hamilton vs Di Resta, because sacking a manager who then sues you must put a cloud over your head. If Hamilton wins, Di Resta will end up looking a bit of a bastard.

I am not sold on Di Resta as being a great driver in waiting, but I do consider him better than Sutil. With the talent available, I do not understand Sutil continue to be in the conversations of seat at various teams. Bianchi I can understand to a degree, I am willing to see if he can live up to the hype.

The fact that teams needs sponsorship I understand, why companies willing to spend Usd 15 - 20 million chose to spend it on drivers clearly not the best available continue to puzzle me. Da Costa, Frinjs, Bianchi, Magnussen, Soerensen from Formula Renault 3.5 last season should be worth a try over Sutil, and then teamed with Di Resta to make a team of known and unknown driver strength.

Di Resta was beaten by Sutil and then beaten again by his next teammate who had the previous season off.

There is a good chance that VJ Mallya thinks he may be able to get a faster driver who also brings more money to the table. If they make the switch to Ferrari power, then Di Resta doesn't bring much to the table. Why not grab a driver you think can be equally fast but brings in more money?

Di Resta is a dud!!! Like all the other Scottish before him... That fact that he stepped 'sideways' after F3, shows him up for the average driver he is... The Hulk took 1/2 a season to get used to the Pirelli tyres, after sitting out a year.. He then steam rolled Di Resta, to get the drive @ Sauber...

I will be suprised if he's on the grid...

Are you taking the piss?

Like all the other Scottish before him....Like Jim Clark and Jackie Stewart? They were duds eh????

Overtly self-confident without having much justification to be so. Also has a complete lack of a sense of humour. He just .... grates.... when he's interviewed on Sky the director must be screaming into Brundle's headset 'quick Martin wind it up, people are switching off all over the world!'.

The thing that is strange about di Resta is that he is clearly a want-away driver from Force India.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side. Heikki's fairy tale dream came true when he joined Mclaren but left as a broken man. Perez has joined Mclaren and before even probably seeing the new car he is forced to speak about winning championships. Life in a top car is different all together. Driver's are expected to compensate for car performance which is something that Di Resta cannot do. He is a skilled driver but not one who can squeeze out that extra tenth of a second or squeeze another driver for that extra point in the finishing order.

He can howl all he likes but being at Force India has been an excellent opportunity for him to stand out which is something he has yet to do.

Overtly self-confident without having much justification to be so. Also has a complete lack of a sense of humour. He just .... grates.... when he's interviewed on Sky the director must be screaming into Brundle's headset 'quick Martin wind it up, people are switching off all over the world!'.

I've met him (albeit briefly) and he was alright, friendly and polite. Frankly you come across as a complete dick based on this one post. You see where i'm going with this?

I've met him (albeit briefly) and he was alright, friendly and polite. Frankly you come across as a complete dick based on this one post. You see where i'm going with this?

I'm not a big fan of di Resta, but I don't understand all the big hate either. To me, he comes across a bit dull and self assured. Hardly the worst possible qualities in a racing driver, but not the most desirable ones either. I think he has the talent to stay in F1 for a few years yet, and it woudll be a pity if his chance of glory is cut short for has beens, or will not ever be's.The media hype has not helped his corner one bit. I'm British, and I'm thoroughly sick of the bloody fawning BBC give him. I would rather see more of Glock or somebody than di Resta all the damn time.

On the way up he is quicker than Vettel yet Vettel goes all the way because he has the Red Bull backing.
Gets his big chance in F1 test but McLaren say he is too tall to be an F1 driver. Gets punted into DTM then cockpit rules are changed to accomodate Webber/Wurtz.
Does well in the DTM with old car.
Wins DTM with good car and gets another chance at F1 because of Haug.
Has to get a Manaco address so that he can join the tax free brigade that is F1 then does not get paid in 2012.
Does well in his maiden season despite Force India using split strategy which gives a false view of your performance against your team mate.
Has to put up with the fawning by the BBC team of failures and fan boys.
Gets a chance at Ferrari with one year deal but ends up in dispute with his manager because his boy needs to move on and Ferrari would be as good a place to go as anywhere.

I could go on.

If he is lucky and keeps his seat for this season there is a chance he might shine. If on the other hand he reads the hate on here, from people who have done nothing in motorsport terms, I suspect, mentally, it will be game over.

Give they guy a chance. He is a great talent but has been struggling with all the crap that a money making scam controlled by a benevolent dictator brings. I hope he bounces back but in a pay formula I very much doubt it.

Heidfeld's opinion about him is no different than most of us:"He has been able to assert himself (Hulkenberg) against the established and - in my opinion - the slightly overrated Paul di Resta, and now with this change he will get even more attention.

Di Resta is a dud!!! Like all the other Scottish before him... That fact that he stepped 'sideways' after F3, shows him up for the average driver he is... The Hulk took 1/2 a season to get used to the Pirelli tyres, after sitting out a year.. He then steam rolled Di Resta, to get the drive @ Sauber...

On the way up he is quicker than Vettel yet Vettel goes all the way because he has the Red Bull backing. Gets his big chance in F1 test but McLaren say he is too tall to be an F1 driver. Gets punted into DTM then cockpit rules are changed to accomodate Webber/Wurtz.Does well in the DTM with old car.Wins DTM with good car and gets another chance at F1 because of Haug.Has to get a Manaco address so that he can join the tax free brigade that is F1 then does not get paid in 2012.Does well in his maiden season despite Force India using split strategy which gives a false view of your performance against your team mate.Has to put up with the fawning by the BBC team of failures and fan boys.Gets a chance at Ferrari with one year deal but ends up in dispute with his manager because his boy needs to move on and Ferrari would be as good a place to go as anywhere.

I could go on.

If he is lucky and keeps his seat for this season there is a chance he might shine. If on the other hand he reads the hate on here, from people who have done nothing in motorsport terms, I suspect, mentally, it will be game over.

Give they guy a chance. He is a great talent but has been struggling with all the crap that a money making scam controlled by a benevolent dictator brings. I hope he bounces back but in a pay formula I very much doubt it.

I'm not a big fan of di Resta, but I don't understand all the big hate either. To me, he comes across a bit dull and self assured.Hardly the worst possible qualities in a racing driver, but not the most desirable ones either. I think he has the talent to stay in F1 for a few years yet, and it woudll be a pity if his chance of glory is cut short for has beens, or will not ever be's.The media hype has not helped his corner one bit. I'm British, and I'm thoroughly sick of the bloody fawning BBC give him. I would rather see more of Glock or somebody than di Resta all the damn time.

Would be a bad trait for a TV presenter, but should be of no consequence as a race driver. It's a poor situation when drivers are judged on their personality rather than their driving.

Heidfeld's opinion about him is no different than most of us:"He has been able to assert himself (Hulkenberg) against the established and - in my opinion - the slightly overrated Paul di Resta, and now with this change he will get even more attention.

Heidfeld knows how to rate drivers, after all he's been lapped by most of them.

Heidfeld was a better driver than di Resta can ever dream of being. He never quite took to final step to top race winner, but then he very rarely had the machinery, and he kept a lot of highly rated drivers very honest indeed as team mates.

Heidfeld was a better driver than di Resta can ever dream of being. He never quite took to final step to top race winner, but then he very rarely had the machinery, and he kept a lot of highly rated drivers very honest indeed as team mates.

He was never highly rated by the top teams otherwise he might still be in the sport, there has to be a good reason why.

Would be a bad trait for a TV presenter, but should be of no consequence as a race driver. It's a poor situation when drivers are judged on their personality rather than their driving.

Perhaps the logic is that some of that "dull" personality blends into his driving as well; I must admit, I don't remember him doing anything exciting on track in two years. That said, Mansell was by all accounts a complete dullard and he was more exciting to watch than a horse with a stick of dynamite up its arse.

As for Heidfeld, perhaps he had the same problem as di Resta: a driver characterised by his solid, unspectacular approach to driving. The team principals aren't immune from unduly valuing those headline drives (see Perez to McLaren) even if a driver who goes about racing in a different way might accumulate similar numbers of points.

He was never highly rated by the top teams otherwise he might still be in the sport, there has to be a good reason why.

Well he was the back up plan (before Button was available) if Raikkonen didn't sign for McLaren for 2010. He was also favourite for the second Mercedes seat until Schumacher came along. It's understandable that he was pushed aside for two world champion drivers.

Well he was the back up plan (before Button was available) if Raikkonen didn't sign for McLaren for 2010. He was also favourite for the second Mercedes seat until Schumacher came along. It's understandable that he was pushed aside for two world champion drivers.

Always second best. I loved to hear from the teams why certain drivers are always overlooked.

Di Resta is a dud!!! Like all the other Scottish before him... That fact that he stepped 'sideways' after F3, shows him up for the average driver he is... The Hulk took 1/2 a season to get used to the Pirelli tyres, after sitting out a year.. He then steam rolled Di Resta, to get the drive @ Sauber...